The Supply Side - Profile on Energy in Florida

Florida's total power consumption: 226,172 million kilowatt hours, ranking the state third nationally, behind Texas and California

While Florida requires a 10% ethanol blend in its gasoline, the state has no ethanol fuel plants. Our ethanol comes primarily from the Midwest, Caribbean Basin and Brazil. That could change this year, with eight ethanol plants under way or proposed statewide. Combined, they’re projected to produce about 230 million gallons a year. (The 10% blend requires about 760 million gallons.)

Florida’s eight planned ethanol plants:

» Southeastern Renewable Fuels, Hendry County: Sweet sorghum to produce 22 million gallons a year of ethanol and 30 megawatts of electricity

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Coskata and U.S. Sugar Corp., Hendry County: Sugar cane to ethanol, 100 million gallons a year

Biodiesels

Florida is home to only one continuously operating commercial biodiesel plant, Geniune Biofuels. But at least three other biodiesel operations are slated to begin production this year, spurred in part by new biodiesel standards set by the EPA. Combined, they would produce an estimated 40 million gallons a year.

Company executives and their supporters hope to drive a bill through this year’s Legislature that would offer credits and incentives to school districts to convert their school bus fleets to biodiesel.

UF plant geneticist Matias Kirst is working on converting poplar into fuel.

Other companies expected to generate alternative-energy news in 2011:

» In Jacksonville, French battery manufacturer Saft is on track to complete its new plant at Cecil Commerce Center and begin production in the third quarter with a 40-person line. The plant will produce lithium-ion batteries for solar and wind power storage, one of the key requirements for expanding renewable energy into power grids.

» Cyclone Power Technologies of Pompano Beach is expected to begin limited production of its patented small-scale waste oil power generator in the first or second quarter, with more widespread production later this year. Called the “Phoenix 10,” developers say the system could allow car-repair and lube shops around the world to recycle their waste oil in a way that’s environmentally friendly and generates energy. Company executives say a typical lube shop could produce 10 kilowatts an hour, perhaps 10% to 20% of a shop’s electricity needs. Just as important, the technology would save companies waste-oil disposal fees and help keep oil contamination out of our water supply.

» Brevard County’s Advanced Magnet Lab has been around since 1995, creating technologies for the design and manufacture of advanced coils and magnets for the medical, defense and research industries. Now, subsidiary AML Energy is developing next-generation large wind turbine generators and high-efficiency power transmission systems